Display sign



June 21, 1960 K. G. MCKIERNAN 2,941,323

DISPLAY SIGN June 21, 1960 K. G. MCKIERNAN DISPLAY SIGN INVENT OR. /ycefvzafz vm f @Kmq-#n 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 p//zf/a Gf Filed Nov. 9, 1956 DISPLAY SIGN Kenneth G. McKiernan, 6431 N. Campbell Ave., Chicago, Ill.

This invention is directed to a type of display sign having an upright translucent panel, illuminating means at the rear side of the translucent panel for illuminating the same, and a plurality of display characters having diagonally arranged slots in the rear faces thereof for removable mounting to the front side of the translucent panel.

In the past, the upright translucent panel of such a display sign has been made -up from a series of translucent panel sections held in a frame and separated by vertically extending frame members so that the upright translucent panel is interrupted throughout its length and does not provide for uniform illumination throughout its length. Also, such display signs have mounting bars for supporting the display characters which extend only for the length of the panel sections and which are provided at their ends with mounting ears for securing the same to the vertically extending frame members. As a result, there is considerable iiexing of the supporting bars so that the display characters are not rmly held and also the mounting ears often interfere with `desired placement of the display characters along the display sign.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved display sign of the aforementioned type wherein the difliculties and deiiciencies encountered in the past in such signs are eliminated, wherein the translucent panel is substantially uninterrupted throughout its length so as to be substantially uniformly illuminated therealong, wherein the display characters are firmly mounted on the front of the panel, and wherein the display characters may have any desired placement along the display slgn.

Brieily, the display sign of this invention, in addition to having a translucent panel which is substantially uninterrupted throughout its length, also includes a plurality of mounting strips horizontally arranged in spaced apart relation along the front side of the translucent panel and extending substantially throughout the length thereof, each of said mounting strips being of uniform crosssectional configuration throughout its length and having a vertically extending attaching flange and an upwardly :and outwardly extending mounting ilange for receiving throughout its entire length the diagonally arranged slots of the display characters for removably mounting the same thereon at any dired position along the length of the translucent panel. The vertically extending attaching anges of the mounting strips, have a plurality of spaced apart holes throughout the lengths thereof which register with spaced apart holes in the translucent panel, and screws extending through the registering holes and associated nuts operate to attach directly the supporting strips to the translucent panel at a plurality of spaced apart points in a rm and solid manner and without ilexing of the mounting strips.

Other objects of this invention reside in the details of construction of the display sign and in the co-operative relationships between the component parts thereof.

Further objects of this invention will become apparent Y 2,941,323 Patented .lune 21, 1960 to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying specication, claims `and drawings'in which:

Fig. 1 is a partial lfront view of the display sign of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical` sectional view through the display sign taken substantially along the line 2--2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the display sign illustrated in Figs. land 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 isa perspective view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating the manner in which water and the like is drained;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating Ianother form of the display sign of this invention;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Figs. 4 and 7 but illustrating another `form of the display sign of this invention; l

Fig. 9 is a perspective view looking from the rear of a display character utilized in the display signs of this invention.

Referring iirst to Figs. l to 5, one form of the display sign of this invention is generally designated at 10. It

includes an upright translucent panel 11 formed of glass or light-transmitting synthetic plastic or the like. This panel 11 preferably extends throughout the length of the display sign and it is contained within a suitable marginal frame 12 carried by the sign housing 13. Within the housing 13 are a plurality of illuminating means such as tluorescent lamps 14 or thelike which are arranged at the rear side of the translucent panel 11 for illuminating the same. Because the translucent panel 11 is substantially uninterrupted throughout its length, it is substantially uniformly illuminated therealong by the illuminating means 14. The display s ign also includes a plurality of `display characters 15 which may be formed from any suitable material such as a light-transmitting synthetic plastic or the like. The display characters are preferably molded and are provided with a front face and with a rear face having rearwardly extending ilanges as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 9. The rearwardly extending flanges of the display characters 15 are provided with diagonally arranged slots 16 which extend upwardly and outwardly as illustrated. These diagonally arranged slots 16 are utilized for removably mounting the display characters 15 to the front side of the translucent panel 11.

A plurality of mounting strips 18 are horizontally arranged in spaced apart relation along the front side of the translucent panel 11 and these mounting strips extend substantially throughout the length of the translucent panel. The mounting strips 18 are arranged in pairs and are spaced apart to correspond to the spacing between the diagonally arranged slots 16 in the display characters 15. Each of these mounting strips 18 is of uniform cross-sectional conguration throughout its length and thus the mounting strips may be inexpensively manufactured by rolling, extrusion process or the like. They may be formed of suitable material such as aluminum, magnesium alloys or the like. They also may be formed from light-transmitting synthetic plastic materials so as to provide the least amount of light interruption along the translucent panel. Each mounting strip 18 has a vertically extending attaching flange 19, extending downwa'rdly as illustrated in Figs. l to 5 and.' an upwardly and outwardly extending mounting ange 20, the upwardly and outwardly extending mounting flange being adapted to receive throughout its entire .length theliagonally arranged slots 16 of the display characters 15 for removably mounting the same thereon at any desired positions along the length of the translucent panel 11.

The vertically downwardly extending attaching anges 19of the ,mounting strips 18 are provided withaplurality of spaced-apart kholes throughoutthe lengths thereofy which register with spaced-apart holes arranged' in the translucent panel 11. Screws 21' extendhthroughfthese registering holes, and ,nuts 22 carried. by the screws 21 operate to secure the mounting strips II8 iirmlyto the translucent panel 11.V Resilient fiber Swashers 2'3 are arranged between the. nuts Z2 and the` rear side of' the translucent panel 11 so asto.distributethe.securingforces and prevent breakage of the translucentppanel 1.1. For outdoor display work resilient liber Washers 24 are also preferably arranged between `the front-sident.,thetranslucent panel 11. and the. iianges. 19 ofthe-:mounting strips 18 for spacing themounting strips 18 from the front: of the translucent panel 11. This provides for drainageof Water and the like from behind thevmounting strips- 1S, as shown in Fig. 5. Sincethe mounting strips 18 are of uniform cross-sectional configuration` throughout their lengths, and are secured at spaced-apart points to the translucent panel 11, the mounting strips 18 `are firmly held in place on the panel 11 andare not subject to vibration orbending or flexing. As a result, the display characters 15 may be firmly mounted on the mounting strips 18 and because there is no obstruction along; the lengths of the mounting strips 18, the display characters 15 may be placed at any Vdesired position therealong,

The display sign illustrated in Fig. 8 ,is particularly adaptable for indoor display workand is very much like the display sign of Figs. l to 5 and, therefore,.like reference characters have been utilized for like parts. In Fig. 8, however, the washers 24 between the flanges 19 of the mounting stripsltl and the front face of the translucent panel 11 are eliminated inasmuch as there is no need for drainage of `Water andthe like. Also, the. crosssectional dimensions ofthe mounting stripsimay be somewhat less` for indoor usethanfor outdoor. use-since theV requirements to be: met'are not as. rugged in the former` as in theA latter. ln Fig. 8 thev vertically Adewnwardly extending flanges 19 of the mounting-.strips 18 engage the front face of the translucent. panel llthroughoutits entire length and, therefore, provide for.` more even distribution of any stress-loadsalong the panel.Y

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, a different type of mounting strip vis utilized. Here the mounting strips` are designated at zdandthey areeach ofgenerallychannelshaped cross-sectional coniigurationthroughout their-'entire length. These substantially channel-shapedmounting strips 26 maybe: formed ofthe samekind. ofmate-` rials described above in connection with the mounting.

strips 18. The mounting strips 26 have` asubstantially horizontal web.27,.a vertically upwardly extending attaching ilange 28 and an upwardly and outwardly extending' mounting flange 29 which is, adapted to receive the diagonally-arranged slots 16 of thev display characters 15. The upwardly vertically extending attaching flanges 28 are provided with a plurality of spaced-apart holes extending throughout the length thereof, which register with a plurality of spaced-apart holes arranged in the translucent panel 11. Screws 30 extend through the registering holes and the attaching flange 23 is drawn against the front face of the translucent panel 11 by nuts 31 cooperating with the screws 30'. Here, also, resilient fiber washers 32 are preferably arranged between the nuts 31 and the rear'side of the translucent panel 1=1 for distributing stress loads. The substantially horizontal web portions 27 of the mounting strips 26 are preferably pro- -vided with a plurality of spaced apart holes 33 for drainageof water and the like when the sign is utilized for outdoor display purposes. One advantage ofthemounting strips 26 of Figs. 6 and 7 over the mounting strips lcofligs; l to .5,.is`tl1at-they are of-lesser height, thew attachingflangeldextending'upwardlyfrather than downwardly as the attaching flange 19 of the mounting strips 18. Since the height may thus be less, the mounting strips 26 provide less interruption of light transmission through the translucent panel 11.

While for purposes of illustration, several forms of the display sign of this invention have been disclosed, other forms thereof may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to this disclosure and, therefore, this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a display sign having an upright translucent panel, illuminating means at the rear side of the translucent panel forilluminating. the same, and a plurality of display characters having diagonally arranged slots in the rear faces thereof for removable mounting to the front side of the translucent panel, the improvement comprising, said translucent panel being vliat and substantially uninterrupted throughout its length so as to be substantially uniformly illuminated therealong a plurality of mounting strips horizontally arranged in vertically spacedI apart relation along the front side of the translucent panel and exposing the translucent panel therebetween and extending substantially throughout the length of the translucent panel, each of said mounting strips being of uniform cross-sectionalconliguration throughout itsIength andhaving a vertically extending attaching ange and-an upwardly and outwardly extending mounting flange for receiving throughout its entire length `the diagonally arranged slots of the display characters for removably mountingthe same thereon at any desired positions along` the length ofthe translucent panel, the vertically extending attaching flanges of the mounting strips having a plurality of spaced apart holes throughout the lengths thereof which. register with spaced apart holes in thev translucent. panel, and screws extending through the registering holesA in the attaching flanges of the mounting front .side .of .the translucent panel, the improvement comprising, said translucent panel being substantially ilat andsubstantially uninterrupted throughout itsA length s'o as to be substantially uniformly illuminated therealong, a1 plurality of. mounting stripshorizontallyl arranged in spacediapart relation along-the frontside of the translu cent panel and. extendingV substantially throughout the length thereof e-ach of said mounting strips being of uniform substantially channel-shaped cross-sectional configuration throughout its length and having a substantially horizontal web, a vertically upwardly extending attaching li-ange and an upwardly and outwardly extendingV rnountingilangeV for receiving throughout its entire lengthk the diagonally arranged slots of the display charactersV for removably mounting thesarne thereon at any desired positions along the-lengthof the translucent panel, the vertically extending attaching iianges of the mounting strips-having a plurality of spaced apart holes throughout theflengthsthereof which register with spaced. apart holes 1 in the translucent panel,.and screws extending through the registering .'holeslinthelattachng flanges of the mounting strips andthe. translucent panel and associated nuts`- attaching the mounting strips at-a plurality of spaced apart points directly to ythe translucent panel Without interfer-LA ingwith.. desired placement-of display charactersalong the mounting strips.

3. In: a; display sign havingv an upright translucenti panel,..illuminatingymeansatthe rear side of the-translucent panel for illuminating the same, and a plurality of display characters having diagonally arranged slots in the rear faces thereof for removable mounting to the front side of the translucent panel, the improvement comprising, said translucent panel being substantially at and substantially uninterrupted throughout its length so as to be substantially uniformly illuminated therealong, a plurality of mounting strips horizontally arranged in spaced apart relation along the front side of the translucent panel and extending substantially throughout fthe length thereof, each of said mounting strips being of uniform substantially channel-shaped cross-sectional congulration throughout its length and having a substantially horizontal web, a vertically upwardly extending attaching lilange and an upwardly and outwardly extending mounting ange for receiving throughout its entire length the diagonally arranged slots of the display characters for removably mounting the same thereon at any desired positions along the length of the translucent panel, the vertically extending attaching anges of the mounting strips having a plurality of spaced apart holes throughout the lengths .thereof which register with spaced apart holes Lin the translucent panel, and screws extending through the registering holes in the attaching flanges of the mountying strips and the translucent panel and associated nuts attaching the mounting strips at a plurality of spaced apart points directly to -the translucent panel without interfering with desired placement of display characters along the mounting strips, and a plurality of spaced apart holes in the substantially horizontal webs of the mounting strips to provide for drainage of water and the like.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,853,703 Send Apr. l2, 1932 2,224,069 Wagner Dec. 3, 1940 2,230,873 Wagner 'Feb. 4, 1941 2,305,047 Wagner Dec. 15, 1942 2,306,511 Wagner Dec. 29, 1942 2,313,723 Adler Mar. 16, 1943 2,319,910 Adler May 25, 1943 2,514,808 Sheldon July 11, 1950 2,610,423 Martin Sept. 16, 1952 

